For better or for worse, friction is an inescapable force we encounter every moment of our lives. We depend on friction in order to walk, we take advantage of friction in order to light a match, we try to reduce friction in our car engines and door hinges, and friction is generated as the muscle fibers of our hearts contract and relax with each heart beat. Usually physicists and engineers invest a lot of time and energy into trying to reduce or eliminate friction within the moving parts of machinery, but others sometimes look for ways to increase friction. Whether an engineer is trying to design a better set of automobile brakes or a more efficient wind turbine, a thorough understanding of friction is a vital prerequisite.
For better or for worse, friction is an inescapable force we encounter every moment of our lives. We depend on friction in order to walk, we take advantage of friction in order to light a match, we try to reduce friction in our car engines and door hinges, and friction is generated as the muscle fibers of our hearts contract and relax with each heart beat. Usually physicists and engineers invest a lot of time and energy into trying to reduce or eliminate friction within the moving parts of machinery, but others sometimes look for ways to increase friction. Whether an engineer is trying to design a better set of automobile brakes or a more efficient wind turbine, a thorough understanding of friction is a vital prerequisite.
The Physics Classroom -- Friction